Corn-planter.



Painted Sept. I6, |902. Y

A ML AP BN dc 4. 9 2, 9 0 7. m 9N` (Application mea .mie 7, 1900.` nnewed .rune 25, 1902.)

2 Sheets-,Shed ,2.

(llo Model.)

Nrrnn #rares l ATENT ini-ica JAMES BAROLAY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEERE AND MANSUR COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,294, dated September 16, 1902. Application filed June '7. 1900. Renewedllune 25, 1902. Serial No. 113,145. (No mnflelh T0 au who-m t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BARCLAY, a

`citizen of Canada, residing at Moline, in the declare the following to bea full, clear, and eX-` act description of the invention, such as will` enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to check-row planters, and more especially to that type of planter which is intended to work without wires and which has come to be known as the wireless check-row marker. As heretofore constructed the marker attachment of these machines has usually been arranged to trail in rear of the planter-frame and had a draft connection with parts of said frame variously approximating the point having the-least sidewise movement when the planter is driven out of line. These trailing markers are, however, subject tothe objection that the forward motion of the planter-frame when deflected at an angle to the shaft of the marker soon causes the spade-wheels to get out of check, this difficulty being apparently (lue to the fact that the spade-wheels are rigidly attached to the marker-shaft, and one of the` wheels must describe a shorter arc than the other Whenever the shaft swings out of its proper angle tothe line of draft, thus causing the wheel traveling on the shorter arc to have a backward tendency, while the one on the other end of the'shaft llas a tendency to overreach the marks. In the present invention I have overcome this difficulty by locating the shaft of the marker over andin practically the vertical plane of the axis of the planter-supporting wheels and connecting the marker pivotally to the planter-frame at substantially the central point between these wheels, thus reducing the tendency of the crooked driving `of the planter to cause the spade-wheels to work in the manner above described, and in order to still further reduce this tendency Lprovide a pivotal connection of such character that while it permits the free rise and fall of the marker independently ofthe planter-frame and also permits the planter to oscillate independently of the marker it converts whatever sidewise deflection of the planter-frame there is that is due to crooked driving into an endwise movement only of the marker-shaft without any tendency to swing the shaft so as to cause the spade-wheels to seek to travel in arcs of different radius. I thereby get rid of the objectionable tendency of one of the spade-Wheels to back and the other to overstep the marks and convert it into an endwise sliding movementof the shaft, which, it will be understood, does not throw the spades out of check, but permits them to register properly with a slight movement laterally in the line of the marks.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, I have illustrated the invention in one of many forms in which I have contemplated embodying it. I do not desire or intend, however, to be limited to this constructiomexcept as to the generic features intended to be illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a fore-and-aft section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

In the views, t a denotethe supportingwheels of the planter. The frame of the planter consists of the front sill b, the rear sill c, and end sills d d, each of which is preferably composed. of bars l and 2, in which are journaled wheelbarrow-like the supportingwheels a a.

The tongue of the planter is denoted by e. It is bolted to the front and rear sills in any suitable manner, being preferably arranged to pass above the front sill and below the rear sill in order to give its forward end the proper elevation. Depending from the frcnt sill b of the planter-frame are brackets ff, to which are pivoted the runners or furrow-openers g g, carrying the cans for the seed-corn and the valvemechanism fordroppingthesame. The brackets ff also carry the shaft h, which eX- tends across the front of the machine 'and carries near its opposite ends" the rodstft', by means of which the valves are operated. The shaft h has secured to it about centrally of its length a crank j, by means of which it is operated from the shaft of the spade markerwheeis through the intermediacy of the rod 7e, pivoted to the lower end of a spring-actuated lever Z, which is pivoted to the tongue IOO and oscillated by a rod m, connected to its upper end and extending thence to a tappetcarrying arm n., which is pivoted at its lower end toa bracket on the frame of the marker. Pivotally connected at 3 3 to the platformsp p, which atie rigid with the runners, are arms q q, which extend rearwardly and in which are journaled the covering and gage wheels r r, the gage of these wheels being adjustable by means of the bolt and slot connections s s between the arms q q and some part rigid with the shoes.

Except in the particulars of the frame construction and the manner of mounting the planter-supporting wheels the parts thus far described form no part of my invention, as the arrangement of runners and gage-wheels, together with the manner of supporting the corn-cans and the devices for operating the dropping mechanism, may be substituted by corresponding parts for producing the same results without affecting the operation of the marker, to which the invention particularly relates.

The marker comprises the shaft t, having rigidly secured at its opposite ends the spadewheels u u. Collars 4 4 are secured to this y shaft at points preferably equidistant of `its ends, and a transverse bar 5 lies parallel with the shaft a short distance in front thereof and is connected by clips 6 6 at its ends, which are sleeved at their opposite ends upon the marker-shaft outside the collars 4 4. Projecting forwardly from the transverse bar 5 is a draft rod or bar 7, which extends forwardly above the tongue and is adjustably connected at its front end by means of a spring 8, having appropriate adjusting means 9 to vary its tension. is located above the planterl supporting wheelsddand preferably in the vertical plane of the axis of these wheels. In this connection it is to he noted that the supportingwheels herein shown are somewhat lower than is usual in thistype of planters. tend, however, to limit the use of my marker to machines having any particular height or type of supporting-wheels.

The drivers'seat 10 is supported, preferably, upon the tongue by means of the standard fu, rising to the proper height and bent at its upper end, so as to locate its weight practically over the center of the machinev and immediately above the marker-shaft. Just forward of the standard v there is secured to the tongue a vertical guide rod or bar w, which is preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose which will presently appear and isl connected at its upper end to the standard. At about the center of its length the marker-shaft t is additionally connected to the transverse bar 5 by a clip l2, which is similar in construction to the end clips 6 6 and which is sleeved upon the shaft in the same way. The clip 12 extends in front of the rod w, and on the shaft t immediately in rear of the rod is a friction-roller x, the rod The shaft of the markerl being thus embraced between the clip in front and the roller behind.

The marker, it will be understood, is supported by the spade-wheels and travels with the planter as the latter is drawn along. It is therefore free to rise and fall independently of the planter-frame and being connected to the planter-frame by the rod 7 and the spring 8, before referred to, describes a short are with respect to the frame as it goes up and down, and the guide-rod w is curved upon this arc for the purpose of permitting this freedom of movement. Rigidly secured to the marker-shaft immediately adjacent to the rod w and the roller 0c is a tappet-wheel 13, having tappets corresponding in number and position with those spades on the markerwheel which are intended to indicate points where the dropping occurs. This tappetwheel is in operative relation with the roller 14, carried by the tappet-arm n, before described, and by 'this means the revolution of the marker-shaft is made to operate the seeddropping devices through the intermediacy of the rod and levers hereinbefore described. It will be seen from this description that the rod wis confined between the clip 12 on one side and the tappet-wheel13 on the other side and that the marker-shaft to which the col- -lars 4 4 and the tappet-wheel 13 are secured is thereby prevented from moving endwise independently of the planter-frame to which the rod 'tu is secured. At the same time the marker-shaft and the planter-frame are allowed to freely swing with respect to each other around the rod as a center, so that the planter may oscillate horizontally in crooked driving without imparting to the marker this oscillating movement.

It will be noted that the rod w passes freely up through the clip 12 and between it and the roller. The rod thus serves as a guide for the movements of the marker and when considered in connection with the parts above described is the means for preventing the marker-shaft from moving bodily endwise without the planter. It is not intended that the draft of the marker should come on the guide-rod; but I prefer to adjust the tension ot' the spring 8 on the draft-bar 7 so as to carry the marker with a yielding draft that is limited only by the amount of play for the rod w between the clip 12 in front and the antifriction-roller a; in rear.

In the use of these machines it is necessary, of course, to provide devices for lifting the spade marker-wheels out of the ground at the end of the row, and it is also usual to provide lifting devices for the runners. The present invention is not limited, however, to the use of any particular device for lifting either the runners or the spade-wheels, but I have illustrated in the drawings a convenient arrangement for this purpose, as follows:

15 15 denote standards rising from the rear bar c of the planter-frame near its opposite ends. In the upper ends of these standards IOO there is journaled a shaft 16, having a crankarm 17 at a point midway of its length. On the front bar Z) of the planter-frame at a point within convenient reach of the driver is pivoted a hand-lever 18, provided with suitable latch mechanism for engaging a rack-segment 19, and the l'ower end of this lever is connected by means of a rod 19' with the arm 17 on the shaft 16. Projecting forwardly from the shaft 16 at points preferably near the standards 15 15 are arms 20 20, and to the forward ends of these arms are pivotally connected links 21 21. These links are provided with elongated slots and are hung upon the shaft 1f of the marker between collars fixed thereon, so as to prevent the links from moving laterally.` These links are of course held in such position by means of the locking devices of the lifting-lever that the markershaft is free to rise and fall in the slots, but when it is desired to lift the spade-wheels the arms 2O 20 and the links 21 21 are thrown upwardly until the marker-shaft is struck by the bottom of the slot, when the shaft and the wheels of the marker are lift-ed as desired.

In the present invention I have provided for the lifting of the runners and gage-wheels by the same deviceswhich lift the markerwheels, as follows: The rear ends of the arms 2 2, in which the gage-wheels are journaled, are connected by rods 22 22 to the arms 2O 2O on the shaft 16, the connection between the rods and the arms 2O 20 being made by passing the rods up loosely through eyes in the arms and providing them at their upper ends with nuts 23 23, so as to permit the gagewheels and runners to move up and down independently of said arms, but so as to lift the wheels and runners whenever the arms 2O 20 are elevated for the purpose of lifting the marker-wheels. In order to hold the runners and gagewheels with an elastic pressure upon the ground, springs 24 24 are carried by the rods 22 22, these springs reacting between the arms 2O `20 and the gagewheel arms. It is not necessary, however, that the devices for lifting the wheels and runners shall be connected to the lifting devices for the marker-shaft, since separate devices forlifting the two parts may be provided, and each may have its own liftinglever conveniently located at any point on the planter-frame. Neither is it necessary, as before indicated, so far as the present invention is concerned, that any particular device for lifting the marker or the runners and gage-wheels should be employed, since many devices for this purpose are already known and used.

Such being the construction of the present exemplification of my invention the operation will be sufficiently understood from the above description without further explanation, except, perhaps, as to the manner in which the lateral deflections 0f the planterframe, due to crooked driving, are converted into endwise movements only of the markershaft without turning the shaft upon its pivotal connections therewith. In this respect the best results are obtained by mounting the rod w, which forms the pivotal connection between the marker and planter, at the exact center of the planter-frame, for at this point there is, theoretically, no motion. It is not essential, however, that the pivotal connection be made at this point, though the nearer this location for the pivot is approximated the less lateral movement there will be to the planter-frame when driven out of line. As the planter is drawn alongand the tongue swerves to one side or the other the connection vbetween the draft-rod of the marker and the tongue tends to swing the marker-wheels and shaft around in the same direction. This tendency is, however, resisted by the hold which the spade-wheels have upon the ground, and owing to the elastic connection between the draft-bar 7 and the tongue the planter is allowed to have a certain amount of lateral movement without affecting the position of the marker-shaft. When the lateral deiiections of the marker-frame become excessive, and particularly when the driver fails to get back promptly to the proper line of draft, the tendency to swing the marker-shaft around on its pivot overcomes the resistance of the marker-wheels in the ground, and if these wheels were connected to a trailing frame or to any sort of a pivoted frame which would be materially either in front or-rear of the vertical plane of the supporting-wheels of the planter the markerwheels and shaft would move laterally with respect to the planter-frame; but by locating the shaft in substantially the same vertical plane as the axis of the planter-wheels and arranging the pivotal connection between the shaft and the planter-frame the lateral deections of the planter have little or no tendency to impart corresponding oscillations to the markershaft, but do impart to the shaft an endwise movement instead, and this endwise movement, as will readily be understood, has no tendency to throw the wheels out of check, but merely produces a slight elongation in the marks made by the spades in the ground.

Having thus described the invention and its operation, I desire to be understood as not limiting my claims to all the above-described features when combined together or to the particular constructions of the several devices described, since some of these features are susceptible of use without the others, and since, also, the particular constructions may be modified without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. For example, the feature of connecting the marker to the planter,so as to prevent the latter from swinging the marker around on its pivot, may be employed without the spring connection between the marker and the planter. Also the foreand-aft arrangement of the spring may be employed in a machine where the connection between the planter and the marker is at any IOO IIO

other point than the center, as well as in a machine where the marker-shaft is located in front lor rear of the vertical plane of the planter-Wheels. Also any other arrangement and construction of spring or springs may be employed in connection with the central pivoting of themarker to the planter-frame.

What I claim, and desire tosecnre by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planterframe,of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker being also pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit the latter to oscillate'horizontally independently of the marker,and means for preventing the marker from swinging bodily laterally with respect to the planter.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame,of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker comprising ashaft and spade-Wheels, and being pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker, and means for imparting an endwise movement only to the marker-shaft corresponding to the sidewise deflection of the planter.

3. In a corn-planter, the combination with theplanter-frame, of a cheek-row markerconnected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, and loeing pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker, and means for converting the sidewise movement of the planter due to crooked driving into an endwise movement only of the marker-shaft without swinging the latter shaft.

4. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker connected to the planterso as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker comprisingashaft and spade-wheels,the shaft of the marker being located over the plantersupporting wheels and in substantially the vertical plane of said wheels axis, and the marker being pivotally connected with the planter, so as to permit the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the' marker.

5. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, the shaft of the marker being located over the planter-supporting wheels and in substantially the vertical plane of the said wheels axis, and the marker being pivotally connected with the planter at substantially the' central point between the planter-wheels so as to permit the planter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker.

6. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker being also pivotally connected with the planter so as to permtthe latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker, and an elastic spring connection between said marker and planter.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, ofa check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker being also pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit -the latter to oscillate horizontally independently ofthe marker, a bar extending forwardly from the marker in the line of the planter-tongue, and a fore-and-aft spring reacting between said bar and tongue.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, ofa check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker being also pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker, and an elastic draft connection between the marker and the planter.

9. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker being also pivotally connected with the planter so as to permit the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker, a bar extending forwardly from the center of the marker in the line of the planter-tongue, a spring connected at its rear end to the forward end of the bar and at its forward end to the plantertongue, and means for regulating the tension of the spring.

10. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker connected to the planter so as to rise and fall freely independently thereof, said marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, the shaft of the marker being located over the planter-supporting wheels and in substantially the vertical plane of the axis of said wheels, and the marker being pivotally connected with the planter at substantially the central point between the planter-Wheels, and an elastic draft connection between said marker and planter at a point forward of and in line with the pivotal connection between the two.

Il. In a corn-planter, the combination of the planter frame, a post rising from the frame, a check-row marker comprisinga shaft and spade-wheels, said shaft being pivotally connected with the post so as to oscillate thereon and be held thereby against lateral movement independently ofthe planter.

12. In a corn-planter, the combination of the planter-frame, a post rising centrally from the frame, a check-row marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, a transverse bar in front of the shaft and connected thereto by clips sleeved on the shaft, a draft-rod extending forward from the transverse bar, and a IOO IIO

Spring connecting the front end of the draftrod with the planter-tongue in line with the rod.

13. In a corn-planter, the combination of the planter-frame, a post rising centrally from the frame, a check-row marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, said shaft being pivotally connected with the post so as to oscillate thereon, and be held thereby against lateral movementindependently of the planter, a tappet-wheel on the marker-shaft in proximity to the post, and connections from said tappet-wheel to the seed-dropping devices of the planter, whereby the marker-shaft is permitted to rise and fall, and the planter-frame to oscillate independently thereof, without disconnecting the tappet-shaft from the seeddropping connections.

14. In a corn-planter, the combination of the planter-frame, a post rising centrally from the frame, a check-row marker comprising a shaft and spade-wheels, and a transverse bar infront of the shaft and connected thereto by clips `sleeved on the shaft, said post being embraced between the central clip in front and a friction-roller on the shaft behind,

l5. In a corn-planter, the combination with the planter-framehavinga tongue rigid therewith, and supporting-wheels each journaled at opposite ends of the frame in a pair of arms rigidly connected to the front transverse bar of the frame.

16. In a corn-planter, the combination of a single frame consisting of front and rear transverse bars, anda tongue rigidly connected with said frame, a pair of parallel bars connecting the front and rear sills of the frame at opposite ends, and supporting-wheels journaled in said connecting-bars.

17. In acorn-planter, the combination with the planter-frame, of a check-row marker counected to the planter so as to rise and fall independently thereof, said marker being also pivoted to the planter so as to allow the latter to oscillate horizontally independently of the marker.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES BARCLAY.

Vitnesses:

WILSON P. HUNT, GEORGE W. CRAMPTON. 

